University student trying to dabble his hands on a small juice business. Need Advice!

Zarcady on 23/03/2014 - 17:40

Hi guys

So I have some free time from uni this year and instead of sitting around watching movies or whatnot, I want to try my hands at starting a small business.

  • I already have my idea for a fresh juice (it's quite unique, never seen it done before)
  • Have the basic equipment
  • still need to fine-tune the pricing and management plans

I want to start out on a mobile trailer - go to sunday markets and gauge the reaction from people. I obviously don't have the funding nor a loan to rent out a place but if the reactions are good, I can maybe pitch the idea to an investor, which is ultimately my goal.

I have absolutely no idea about these things, I'm a supervisor at a local bar but I'm not sure if that's even going to help one bit.

What I want to ask from the Ozbargainers are mainly two advice:

  1. I'm located in Townsville, QLD and I need to know what type of licenses or permits (strictly juice only for now) I will need to get to run an out of trailer business in Sunday markets or other public settings.

  2. Which public places could I possibly go to, in order to raise some awareness and make some bucks. Any ideas similar to Sunday markets would be awesome. I was thinking about my university, but I will need permission from university and I don't think it will be very easy.

Thanks so very much guys!

General Discussion

Comments

  • miss arrow on 23/03/2014 - 18:05

    I wanted to say good luck with your business - remember that you'll need insurance, public liability insurance for the markets too (some have them built in with the market stall costs). Your car insurance may need updating if you're towing a business trailer.

    Here in SA we have small business workshops - they are free and you have access to the sort of professions who can answer your questions :) Maybe Townsville has similar?

  • redraoh on 23/03/2014 - 18:33

    Maybe ask some other vendors (when they're not looking busy) how they got into it. Or you could look up their website/Facebook/etc. and contact them that way.

    Universities might be hard. You could set up right outside though. A few do that near my university.

  • Aceboy884 on 23/03/2014 - 21:13
    +2

    Best to try your idea at local markets and get some feedback

    It's low cost and low risk
    You can also buy one off insurance so your not over committed

    New business best to keep cost low

    • Noblejoker on 24/03/2014 - 10:18

      Good advice with a caveat
      One-off market insurance for Public Liability is usually a bare bones cover
      This is also true of the cover provided by Market holders if they provide as part of your stall cost
      Usually the cheapest is AAMI http://www.aami.com.au/business-insurance/market-stall-and-e…

      HOWEVER
      These cheap policies exclude Products Liability and any activities outside of the actual market day
      If someone wants to sue you for an (alleged) allergic reaction to the juice or something you will not be covered
      A typical FULL public Liability policy (broadform or including Products Liability) will run you $800 odd (?) and will cover more eventualities
      You can often pay by the month and if cancelled after 3 months you have had comprehensive 24/7 cover for not much more than AAMI etc

  • blitz on 23/03/2014 - 21:50

    Good luck OP!

  • kasumi on 23/03/2014 - 22:07

    Check if QLD requires a food handling certificate or something similar as well?

    Can you pre-bottle the juices instead and try to get some market vendors to sell them and give them a commission? It might be a bit better in the beginning as you prob don't have to buy so many insurances etc, if your were running a mobile trailer from the start?

    It can also give you a gauge on local market demand without that initial set up and outlays

  • NamandSpam on 23/03/2014 - 22:14

    Zarcady, brilliant initiative! Hope you do well.

    Possible if you can post the content of the juice?

    Out of curiosity.

  • zolinger on 24/03/2014 - 00:50

    Theres a lot of costs associated with a food business as quoted by my learned colleagues, check with the council regulations! They'll give you an idea of what is needed to avoid being harassed by the police and health inspectors. my advice is to check out what your friends think and if they like it, you'll already have a market! good luck. Let me know how it goes! :)

  • juventino on 24/03/2014 - 00:58

    Not sure about NSW, but in Vic :

    1. Need to have the council approval or licence. Trailers and vans are allowed to trade in certain areas.
    2. Public liability insurance
    3. Bookings from market most of the time has to be made months prior as it sells out pretty quickly.
  • windale on 24/03/2014 - 07:51

    If you check with your local council, as has been suggested, they will tell you everything you need to know and what licences, approvals and permits etc you will need. They will most likely inspect your setup as well. There will be costs. Local councils seem to enjoy getting as much as they can out of small business people :(

    This has all the info you need:

    http://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/business/foodsafety/Pages/d…

    • Lichen6420 on 24/03/2014 - 08:56
      +1

      You will need a food license, there is a exclusion for drinks vendors but not for juice.

      The sale of drinks (other than fruit or
      vegetable juice processed at the place of
      sale) including, for example, tea, coffee,
      soft drinks and alcohol.

      Remember your input cost (fresh fruit & veg) varies greatly throughout the year.

      You will need to find a suitable wholesaler of fruit and veg willing to deal with you (a juice stand is barely worth bothering with from a business perspective for them). Work out your input costs and the variation throughout the year.

      My suggestion would be to start at the Willows markets on a Sunday and go from there.

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